Octagonal Tea Box

Description:

Octagonal Tea Box, China, Ch'ien Lung mark (1735-1796) and of the period, the caddy with a rosewood frame and cover, sides inset with yellow and brown jade tablets inscribed with a poem, all framed in white jade, top inset with mother-of-pearl inlay of the "Hundred Antiques," a poem, and two seals, Ch'ien Lung "nien chih" mark on the base in tortoiseshell-colored jade in a roundel of flowering prunus, ht. 8 1/2, dia. 8 1/4 in.

Note: Poem reads:
By noon away the clouds suddenly cleared,
In vivid relief the landscape appeared,
Into the hills rather I'd roam,
Joy abounds in the fields when I come home.

Over the river's edge clustering willows bend,
Slowly the barge moves across soft wind,
Upon the jade studio I fix my gaze,
What age of bamboos in autumnal haze?

The smoke of dawn rise fading,
The view of mountain ranges appears evading,
In gardens by the roadside rest I seek,
Orchids bloom against rainbowed mountains peak.

Multicolors and fragrance dominate the season's fare,
How many precious plants solicit tender care?
Having not read the prologue by Ou Tzu the botanist,
Who would recognize the real flowers that exist?

During my absence spring has come and gone,
Alas, the lovely season never lasts long.
Only that sagacious prefecture officiate
He has made his name immortal.

From the hilltop I look down on the rippled pond,
Lily leaves over the surface abound,
Merrily with wine I entertain my guest,
With happy memories of the past am I at rest.

Estimate $10,000-15,000

One section of the cover side loose; minor loss to the mother of pearl.

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